Dalwhinnie 30 Year Old, Diageo Special Release 2019

This year’s eight limited-edition cask strength whiskies selected master blender Dr. Craig Wilson form a unique collection from some of Scotland's most renowned distilleries.

Unique in its own way – distinctive maturation casks, rare finishes, unexpected taste profiles – every expression brings to life each distillery’s character, through beautifully dramatised illustrations of the wildlife and flora surrounding the distilleries.

APPEARANCE: Deep gold with copper lights. Good beading.

NOSE: A mild nose overall, with some light prickle. The top notes are vegetal and faintly smoky, as with a snuffed candle, almost suggesting a Halloween pumpkin lantern; the overall impression is savoury, with a light sweetness suggesting moorland heather pollen. The base notes are of spicy fresh-planed wood, which if a drop of water is added becomes light balsa wood. Much sweeter at first after this, with a tangy, fruity note of pickled ginger.BODY: Medium to full.

PALATE: At natural strength, big, creamy-smooth and mouth-filling in texture, with a richly sweet, waxy initial taste and spicy, with a touch of salt and an appealing, gradually building peppery warmth that carries on into the finish. When slightly reduced, the taste remains the same when a good drop of water is added, becoming a sweet, smoothly balanced whole that is delicious to drink.

FINISH: Long and spicily warming, leaving the tongue tingling and a pleasantly earthy aftertaste. A little water lengthens the finish and reduces the spiciness.